Terminology

GENERAL

Free Space

Due to Federation laws, the establishment of official territory within the galaxy is highly complicated and is limited to specific quotas as put forth by the Thassid’s ‘Enlightened Collective’. Solar System territories that have not been claimed officially by various powers, are colloquially considered ‘Free Space’. This does not mean they’re uninhabited, quite the contrary, quite a few of them are home to species splinter factions as well as privatised developments.

FTL

Faster Than Light travel. FTL travel is achieved through the manipulation of agitated Dark Matter, which allows it to drop into subspace. Within subspace, a ship can break the light-speed barrier as the limit of space-time no longer applies. For that reason, FTL travel is effectively instantaneous and causes no long term ill effects or timeline discrepancies, limited only by the time it takes for a drive core to power up and down.

Subspace

Although the entire backbone of interstellar travel, much of what is understood of FTL subspace is highly theoretical, and for that reason requires comprehensive Ship AI’s to navigate, as it essentially slips through two planes of existence. The subspace appears to be highly malleable and somewhat volatile from what little observation can be gleaned from it, but given the near instantaneous speed ships travel through it is considered a primarily safe venture. Much of the danger in Subspace travel comes from distance and the maintenance of the generated subspace field. Generally, most drive cores only allow for local jumps; from star to nearest star.

Spaceship AI

Although FTL travel is considered a primarily safe activity, it effectively requires the manipulation of forces that Human and most Alien comprehension struggles to grapple with - about the only person who would be able to understand the exact nature of FTL travel would have to be an expert physicist, or the Thassid. This quickly becomes a problem when one needs to understand these quantum calculations in order to navigate subspace during FTL jumps. Although most destinations are equipped with a lock-on beacon to allow for hassle free jumps, for the sake of safety, all FTL ships require an onboard AI to operate and constantly monitor FTL systems. As long as these AI are correctly maintained and follow legal requirements, even the most layman pilot can operate an interstellar vehicle without trouble.

HUMAN

Belter

Usually an asteroid miner.

Human Liberation Front

Extremist Human group who advocates for the ‘Freedom’ of Humans. They generally believe Humanity has been treated unfairly by the Federation and want Humans to be an independent species. They are known for their terrorist tactics, usually targeting Federated space and Alien owned ships and colonies. Although the Federation recognises that this is an extremist splinter faction of the Human species, it expects the USS to keep them in check. Failure to do so may result in drastic repercussions.

MIND

Military Intelligence Network Device. Class 1 (HPAA) implant, usually restricted to either military personnel or those who can afford it’s tax restrictions within USS regulated territories.

Modder

Usually the preferred slang term for humans who use a lot of cybernetics illegally.

Spacer

Someone who was born and raised or lives primarily in space, either on colony ships or space stations.

Technophile

Slang term for Modders, or humans who use a lot of cybernetics illegally.

USS

United Sol Systems, operative intergalactic human government.

USSM

United Sol Systems Marines, Humanity’s interstellar defence force. Operates in several divisions, with a primary focus on space fleets.

Xenophile

(Often Xeno) someone who is physically attracted to Aliens.

GALACTIC FEDERATION

Galactic Federation

An allied association of several sapient species, ruled by council representatives from each race. It’s operative territory encompasses much of the known Milky Way Galaxy. So far, Humans have only been granted Associate status.

Exonet

(XNET or EXNET) Galactic scaled Internet network that is run by the Galactic Federation.

THASSID

The Enlightened Collective

A hive mind ‘node’ of the highly advanced species, the Thassid, who are the benevolent keepers of most Federation space operations. The Collective is the Scientific and Preservation division, responsible for the monitoring and passive research of hundreds of thousands of sapient species, gauging their potential to become a post FTL species and therefore, of interest to the Galactic Federation. They also govern the expansion rate of Federation species territories, related to extensive datasets that supposedly aim to keep expansion and the longevity of all species in safe limits.